About Us

A passionate nomad, Chika loves to travel the world - often on two wheels. Actually, pretty much everything she does involves wheels. Chika has worked in the motorbike and cycling industries for 20 years. She's the Managing Director of Aussie motorcycle parts and accessories importer Link International and she founded the bike resource site BikeRoar. In 2017, Chika set in motion her dream travel company, Roar Adventures, so that others could get as much joy out of seeing the sights from the saddle of a bike as she does. Just to keep things super challenging, Chika recently embarked on another new adventure involving wheels - she became a mom and added stroller wheels.

Why do you like to travel?
I was born in Osaka, Japan, but pretty soon I hopped on a plane and moved to Queensland, Australia with my family. Since then I've traveled to over 50 countries and it's my goal to visit heaps more. I love to discover different cultures and histories, to explore new places and learn about other people. I'm as curious as a kid. The world is a giant adventure playground to me. Come play!

Why do you like to bike tour?
Cycle touring equals the best bits of travel plus the fun and freedom of being on two wheels. Nothing else adds up to it. I can stop when I like, talk to the locals and see what they're up to. I get to take everything in and absorb the little details I'd miss in a car. Guided tours mean I can ask the local tour guide everything about the place and culture. I'm always at the front of the group bombarding the guide with questions. (Persistent? Moi?)

What kind of cycling do you do?
I like road cycling but I'm happy on any bike. People are often surprised to discover I'm a really slow cyclist, but that's just how I am; I like to take my time. There are loads of travelers like me on the tours I join. The fast ones enjoy the journey in their own way - usually waiting for the rest of us at the next watering hole!

Where will you go next?
Sri Lanka's been on my list of destinations for ages. It's got over 2000 years of recorded history, a fascinating culture and wild elephants! This is the tour I'm eyeing.

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
That's easy. I hang out with my son Phoenix and we chat about all the adventures we're going to go on.

With a passion for bikes, photography, and web development, Mikel works behind the scenes of both BikeRoar and Roar Adventures as our Chief Technical Officer. Most of his time is spent coding new features for the website, but his skills are also lent towards marketing, SEO, graphic design and customer support. Mikel is always there to answer any web and technical questions we have.

When not at the computer, Mikel can be found either cooking up a storm or traveling with his camera in hand.

Why do you like to travel?
I always find travel so exciting — seeing and experiencing new new things and places, and meeting new people from cultures that are so different to my own.
 
Why do you like to bike tour?
A bike tour is such an awesome way to explore a new place. It's the perfect balance of being mobile enough to see a lot, but at a pace that fully enables you to take it all in and interact with your surroundings.
 
What kind of cycling do you do?
I'm by no means a cycling expert, but I do a bit of everything. I'm equally happy on a commuter, mountain or road bike, but if I had to pick a preference it would be to go off road a bit and really get a feel for a place by exploring the sights less commonly seen by tourists.
 
Where will you go next?
I've got a huge bucket-list of places to check out, plus some places that I travel to regularly such as Japan. I loved the Himalayas in Nepal when I went there many years ago, and it'd be great to do it on a bike next time! I'd also love to explore Myanmar and South America.
 
When you're not traveling and cycling...?
Much of my free time is spent with my young son, doing work around the house and garden, or cooking up a storm in the kitchen. I'm a bit of a workaholic, so any other free time is usually spent on building my development skills or doing some contract video production work.

Anthony is an accomplished marketer, but he admits all his hard work is just a means to support his cycling habit. An avid road cyclist since “forever”, Anthony started racing in college and worked his way up to racing in the pros. When he's not in the office crafting marketing strategies and tactics, he's spending time with family or outside riding and racing in Southern California,

Why do you like to travel?
I enjoy visiting new places, so I try to go somewhere new every time. It's exciting to see different ways of life and cultural history.

Why do you like to bike tour?
When I was racing full time, I got to travel to and ride around so many great places, but there wasn't much time to enjoy the scenery. Bike touring lets me experience towns and countrysides at a far more appreciative pace.

Where will you go next?
France is on my short list. My Tour de France racing dreams have long passed, but I still hope to ride those illustrious roads and mountains. It's only a matter of time before I head out on a tour like the "Tour de France 2018 Pyrenees Cycling Tour".

Julie is a travel and media specialist with a passion for exploring the world, often taking the chance to embark on cycling tours wherever possible. When she's at home, you'll find her barefoot in the garden, surrounded by pets. Julie loves riding gravel trails and off-road paths, always on the lookout for hidden, scenic routes that take her off the beaten track.

Why do you like to travel?
I like to connect with new places and explore unfamiliar ground – to see what's around the next corner is incredibly exciting and motivating. I love to slow travel, taking in the sights and sounds of each place and meeting interesting characters along the way. My favorite way to travel is in a campervan, with a bike rack of course!

Why do you like to bike tour?
You see so much more by bike than you do in a vehicle - slower but in more detail.  I like to think of it as a reminder to slow down and appreciate quality over quantity.  I also love the low cost and low impact benefits with a huge return for your efforts, both in terms of health and fun.

What kind of cycling do you do?
I love gravel riding and the versatility of off-road riding.  I also enjoy riding MTB trails with my partner and friends.  Biking in the city is a favorite pastime of mine, from London to Amsterdam, Brisbane, Munich, Prague, Hobart and more!  It's something I really like to do when visiting a new place especially.

Where will you go next?
My next adventure is going to be a trip to the UK and Europe (in a van) and my partner and I intend to rack up a lot of bike miles!

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
I'm a bit of a permaculture nerd, and enjoy anything that echoes the good life, and takes me a step closer to self-sufficiency. I also love to sew, paint, cuddle dogs, hike, and finish the day in a rustic pub with loved ones.

Dom is an experienced multimedia journalist from the UK who has worked at a national and international level in print, radio, and television. Dom has also left his hands and marketing nous to the development sector for a disaster response NGO working in the Philippines and Nepal. Cycling has always been a huge passion, which really cranked up a gear after an overnight charity ride in the UK, while a longer tour through Germany left Dom hungry for more. Any spare time Dom has is dedicated to going on adventures or planning some new ones with his girlfriend, while home can loosely be identified as Berlin these days.

Why Do You Like to Travel?
Put simply - to broaden my horizons, challenge myself and make memories that will last forever. Meeting people and discovering places is what life is all about and it pushes you to better yourself while appreciating and understanding the lives of others.

Why Do You Like to Bike Tour?
For the pure simplicity of it all, that is when I'm not panting and struggling up a hill, however even then I can still savor the moments that come with it. It ties in with why I like to travel, for the sheer love of discovery. Doing it on two wheels means I can do it at a slower pace and lap up every single moment of which are there are so many.

Where Will You Go Next?
Well, currently I'm on the road in a van around Tasmania and I'm then set to spend a couple months exploring the West Coast, Northern Territory, and Red Center of Australia in a 4x4. I'm loving it and cannot wait for the next stretch of road, but as always cycling is never far from my mind. I'm planning a short and gentle ride for a week or so from Berlin to Copenhagen, while bigger rides through Europe remain on the agenda. However, the Bhutan Heritage by Bicycle tour really does appeal for another trip.

Josh is an ardent cyclist and traveler living in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. A few years ago, Josh vowed to spend more time on his bike, so when he's not at his keyboard writing or editing a story, how to, or review, he can be found riding all disciplines of mountain bikes in the vast terrain found all over his BC backyard, or riding a bike and adventuring somewhere abroad. Josh also captures riding memories and adds to his storytelling as a skilled photographer.

Why do you like to travel?
I like getting out to see the world's art, culture, and diversity. There's so much to enjoy everywhere.

Why do you like to bike tour?
There's no lack of great riding where I'm at, but I like getting onto new paths and new trails and experience it up close. Being on the ground, on a bike, let's me get closer to the action and it's easy to stop and go in between taking notes or snapping photos.

What kind of cycling do you do?
I mostly mountain bike - 29er, 650b, 26" - I don't discriminate.

Where will you go next?
I just wrapped up a trip to Europe to visit Croatia and Prague, and before that, New York city. I'm never quite sure where my next assignment will take me, but I would certainly like to get to New Zealand - maybe the NZ MTB Dreamer Tour.

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
If I'm not on a bike, I'm probably playing with my dog, Piper, or doing something outdoors with my wife, Kaila. We like to kayak, ski, and hike.

As well as writing about bikes and cycling, Marcus is an established cycling coach specializing in strength and conditioning. Despite a prodigious lack of natural talent, he managed to compete at State level on the track and on the road, but in the last few years his focus has shifted to playing and racing on his fat bike. When he’s not riding the fatty in the sand or snow, he can be found at local bike events in Melbourne, Australia, or pursuing his other passion, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has two young sons who, at 4 and 6 respectively, are already faster than him.

Why do you like to travel?
I don’t just like traveling, I like adventure. Luxury hotels and resorts are not really my thing; I prefer visiting places off the beaten track. When you’re somewhere new, every day can be an adventure if you let it.

Why do you like to bike tour?
One of the best things about bike tours is the people you meet on them. Think about it – who goes on a bike tour? Only other awesome people who like bikes, travel, and adventure. Cool people, in other words.

Where will you go next?
I recently returned from Thailand where I went on the Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by bike tour. Up next I'd like to go to Mongolia or East Timor. Both places have some iconic rides, and I probably wouldn’t visit either of them on a regular holiday. Wherever I go next, it has to be a challenging ride with interesting scenery and a tour company with some history and knowledge of the area.

Shoshauna is a former professional cyclist, a published writer, personal trainer, spin instructor, model/actress, and owner of her own business, Healthy Hooch Kombucha, out of Abbotsford, BC, Canada. She's a jack of all trades with a passion for sport and the outdoors.

Why do you like to travel?
I love the adventure and experiencing something new. I avoid fast, multi-city tours and resort style vacations. I want to be in the depths of a city and immersed in a culture. I want to be out in the hills, breathing the different smells of native trees and flora, searching for that next breath taking view. I want to truly experience a country and city for what it is. That's what I crave when I travel and that's why I love traveling.

Why do you like to bike tour?
As a pro cyclist I had the opportunity to live in a number of different countries in Europe. It's immersive; I really got a feel for an area and started to feel like a member of the community. That's a very cool feeling. Biking is also the best way to see an area. You can go from the hustle of the city to the serene hills amidst wildlife and nature.

What kind of cycling do you do?
I'm a road cyclist, however, I'm getting more into mountain biking.

Where will you go next?
I have a few places that I'd love go to over the next five years. The Philippines is at the top of my list; it sounds amazing and is a part of my heritage. I'd love to go back to Europe and visit friends in Switzerland, Finland, Belguim, and Spain. We shall see what the future holds.

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
At the moment, I work, a lot. I teach four spin classes a week and I work on my business, doing everything from marketing to brewing and tasting, to filling bottles and invoices. Throw in a bit of modelling/acting and contract writing, and I'm working 60-80 hours a week. As an athlete you're programmed to be overly ambitious, so for me nothing's changed on that front.

Shane is an avid road cyclist living in SoCal after meeting his wife on Strava and relocating from Vancouver, Canada. Cycling is everything to Shane, so much so that he named his youngest daughter Caydence. Shane is a regular cycling product reviewer and maintains an active presence in the cycling community, on the road and on social media.

Why do you like to travel?
I enjoy traveling to explore new places. I try to travel with at least one bike, and while at a new location, I try and get lost on two wheels in order to really dissect my new location.

Why do you like to bike tour?
Bike touring adds to the adventure of discovering a new location. I've been able to find many hidden gems while bike touring that a normal traveler would never uncover.

Where will you go next?
Cycling in Ireland is on my bucket list. The rolling countryside and the abundance of wildlife crossing the road is something I want to experience for myself. Since I'm originally from the Pacific Northwest, I long for familiar green scenery. My family roots trace back to Ireland and I've never been. Perhaps I have a distant cousin or uncle that would want to tag along.

Jayne Rutter is a mountain biker, environmental scientist, mother of three, and an owner of an environmental sustainable brewery in Brisbane, Australia.

Why do you like to travel?
There are so many amazing places in the world to see. In 2005 I was lucky enough to go to Antarctica on an ice climbing tour. It was a small ship (50 passengers) with a great group of people. You could not take a bad photo. It was gorgeous! Being away from home also makes you appreciate where you live more and it makes you see it in a different light when you get home.

Why do you like to bike tour?
It is a slower paced way to see different environments and cultures.

What kind of cycling do you do?
Mountain biking for fun and for competition. I commute on a road bike, and also race gravity enduros and ride penny-farthings every now and then.

Where will you go next?
New Zealand. It’s close to home with a great network of trails. This looks like my kind of fun - South Island Dirt Seeker MTB.

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
Washing laundry (three kids!), working, and drinking beer (three kids!).

Jonathon Nunan is a Cycling Industries SME Business Consultant & Industry Commentator, based in Melbourne - Australia's cycling capital.

Why do you like to travel?
I've traveled since I can remember. It's in my bones. Traveling has helped define who I am and what's important to me. I think it makes me a better, more grounded, more open-minded person. Traveling is why I have a beautiful English wife. Why our first date was in Rome. Why we were married in Bali. Why I was a British Cycling Champion. Why my son has a French name, and Godparents from Pakistan, Lebanon, and Australia. And traveling is how I got to cycle in so many amazing places and meet so many awesome friends and trusted business colleagues. Yet at the same time, traveling makes me appreciate even more where I come from and how lucky I am, to live where I do.

Why do you like to bike tour?
There is no better way to discover somewhere new, get under its skin, notice all its fine details and access all its hidden corners, than by bicycle. A bike encourages you to explore more than you would by foot or by car. It is also sometimes the only way to take in a congested city, hilltop town or remote country lane. You simply can't avoid having to interact with people when you ride. By design or by accident. Which is important, as it's the people who define a place, more so than the scenery or the food. Although on that note, the fatigue or hunger generated by a good bike ride, will ensure you seek out and enjoy, even more, the local delicacies and eateries.

What kind of cycling do you do?
Whilst my track racing days are long behind me now, I still enjoy my road bike when I get the opportunity. And I love switching to the flat-bar bike and trailer, to ride my little guy to school. I can't help but periodically stare at my track bike though and plot my belated come back to the boards.

Where will you go next?
Most likely the UK, as my wife travels there regularly for work and we both have plenty of family and friends there. And if we go to the UK, we try to sneak in a visit to our favorite cycling/food/culture destinations in either, Italy, Spain or France. Otherwise, likely Taiwan for the next Taipei Cycle Show and Germany for Eurobike. And we definitely plan to return to beautiful Sri Lanka and our stalwart holiday destination of Bali.

What do you get up to when you're not traveling and cycling?
Being a proud and sometimes slightly frayed Dad to our bundle of fun and noise. Helping businesses and government organizations do Better Bike Business. Writing the odd article or op-ed for some wonderful cycling industry sites. As well as being the personal assistant and chauffeur to a Lego 'master builder' and a brilliant global marketing director.

Phoenix is Chika’s baby son. He’s new to bike touring – and to life – but he’s pretty sure he’ll love it when it comes to having a go. He’s pretty focused on trying all new things right now. And by trying we mean eating. In an attempt to get to know him we asked him who he was and where he was from. Unimpressed by such existential questions, he chose instead to chew a book.

Why do you like to travel?
I’m not sure anyone’s asked me that before. But, generally, if mom moves I go with her. If she goes through that door into that other bit where I can’t see her I’ve discovered I can follow her by pulling myself along on my fists.

Why do you like to bike tour?
Because I get to sit on a seat behind my mom which am like ‘wheeeeeeeee’!!!!

Where will you go next?
Banana.

What do you get up to when you’re not traveling and cycling?
See above. Oh, and roaring. Apparently I roar. Who knew?